Photos: Meet the boy with half a heart

Meet Lucas "the lionhearted miracle." His family was one of thousands participating in the 10th annual NSTAR Walk for Children's hospital.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Lucas was born without a left ventricle in his heart. While his mother had been advised to terminate her pregnancy, doctors at Children's Hospital said surgery after birth could save his life.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Lucas with his mother Becky. Four days after Lucas was born, he underwent open-heart surgery at Children's Hospital. Six months later he underwent a second surgery — the first of two corrective operations aimed at permanently utilizing pressure from the lungs to pump blood to his upper body, taking the load off his heart.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Becky McGowan tells NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh about their walk team named "Lucas the Lion Heart" in honor of their little boy.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

The McGowan team includes 15 members and raised over $4,000 this year for Children's Hospital.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

This is Lucas' ultrasound at 12 weeks (little leg propped on the wall)

At birth on Sept 30, 2010: 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 20 inches long.

Lucas at birth, just before he was to undergo open heart surgery.

Four days after Lucas was born, he underwent open-heart surgery in order to divert blood flow to his lungs and allow that organ to take on some of the heart's work.

While the family has worked to maintain a positive outlook, McGowan said there were times when they felt powerless over what their son was enduring.

The first time his parents saw his face without tubes post surgery.

Six months later, when Lucas had learned to sit up, he underwent a second surgery — the first of two corrective operations aimed at permanently utilizing pressure from the lungs to pump blood to his upper body, taking the load off his heart.

There is a 75 percent survival rate for children like Lucas.

We just felt like we had no hope until we went to Children's Hospital," McGowan said.

The success rate at Children's Hospital is so high that families travel from all over the world to give their babies a fighting chance.

So far, Lucas has had two of the three operations and is thriving.

Will he grow up to be a professional football player? Probably not says his cardiac surgeon, Dr. Christopher Baird, “Maybe not a football star, or maybe he won’t run a marathon, although he may be out there running 5 K's”

Today it’s impossible for the McGowan’s to imagine their lives without Lucas. Bill watches him run around with all the curiosity and stamina of a healthy 2 year old boy.

Becky, Lucas and Bill McGowan

Lucas faces one more surgery in the coming year, but the McGowan’s feel confident knowing he’s in such capable hands.

Meet Lucas "the lionhearted miracle." His family was one of thousands participating in the 10th annual NSTAR Walk for Children's hospital.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Lucas was born without a left ventricle in his heart. While his mother had been advised to terminate her pregnancy, doctors at Children's Hospital said surgery after birth could save his life.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Lucas with his mother Becky. Four days after Lucas was born, he underwent open-heart surgery at Children's Hospital. Six months later he underwent a second surgery — the first of two corrective operations aimed at permanently utilizing pressure from the lungs to pump blood to his upper body, taking the load off his heart.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

Becky McGowan tells NewsCenter 5's Heather Unruh about their walk team named "Lucas the Lion Heart" in honor of their little boy.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

The McGowan team includes 15 members and raised over $4,000 this year for Children's Hospital.

PHOTO: Neil Ungerleider/WCVB

This is Lucas' ultrasound at 12 weeks (little leg propped on the wall)

At birth on Sept 30, 2010: 7 pounds, 3 ounces and 20 inches long.

Lucas at birth, just before he was to undergo open heart surgery.

Four days after Lucas was born, he underwent open-heart surgery in order to divert blood flow to his lungs and allow that organ to take on some of the heart's work.

While the family has worked to maintain a positive outlook, McGowan said there were times when they felt powerless over what their son was enduring.

The first time his parents saw his face without tubes post surgery.

Six months later, when Lucas had learned to sit up, he underwent a second surgery — the first of two corrective operations aimed at permanently utilizing pressure from the lungs to pump blood to his upper body, taking the load off his heart.

There is a 75 percent survival rate for children like Lucas.

We just felt like we had no hope until we went to Children's Hospital," McGowan said.

The success rate at Children's Hospital is so high that families travel from all over the world to give their babies a fighting chance.

So far, Lucas has had two of the three operations and is thriving.

Will he grow up to be a professional football player? Probably not says his cardiac surgeon, Dr. Christopher Baird, “Maybe not a football star, or maybe he won’t run a marathon, although he may be out there running 5 K's”

Today it’s impossible for the McGowan’s to imagine their lives without Lucas. Bill watches him run around with all the curiosity and stamina of a healthy 2 year old boy.

Becky, Lucas and Bill McGowan

Lucas faces one more surgery in the coming year, but the McGowan’s feel confident knowing he’s in such capable hands.